Fresh Start to Fitness: Exercises to Build Your Chest Muscles

Having strong chest muscles can enhance overall body function such as your ability to push things, performing daily tasks and improve posture, all of which are vital to maintaining as we age.

Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute exercise specialist will be demonstrating a chest exercise routine that can be completed from a standing position.

He recommends that you complete the following routine twice per week in order to start seeing improvement in your activities of daily living:

1) Plate Press: Hold a weighted plate between your hands by pressing it together and bring it to chest level close to your body. Extend your arms out in front of you slowly and then retract back to starting position. This constitutes one repetition. Complete 3 sets of 8-10 reps.

2) Standing Dumbbell Flyes: Hold a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing forward. Raise the weight in your right hand out in front of you and across your body until it reaches chest level. Return to starting position through the same arc and repeat with the other arm. Complete 3 sets of 10 reps per arm.

3) Standing Press: Hold a pair of dumbbells, arms bent, palms facing the ceiling and hold them at chest level. Press the weight out in front of you, being mindful of squeezing the chest at the top of the movement. Return to starting position. Complete 3 sets of 10-12 reps.